The club was upstairs above the building,
between the Hippodrome and Woolworth’s

The Elbow Room next to the Hiipodrome,was a great club.
When I was young, not so long ago,
I always considered it ‘posher’ than the others.
It was owned by a tall bald headed bloke Albert
and I think his partner Malcolm Hearne,
who at the time seemed strict on membership,
although once inside the club, it was not noticable!

It was a compact club with a great atmosphere,
and as soon as you got passed the ‘bouncers’
and went up the wooden stairs ,
you knew you were in for a good time,
and you could even get ‘food’!
their hamburgers being real good.

Many of the local bands played here,
including Monopoly, which of course
featured Raymond Frogatt.

This is also were the great band Traffic came together.
The four musicians would often get together on stage
it was there that the idea for Traffic was formed.
With Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi eager to form a new band, Steve Winwood agreed to join the partnership along with Chris Wood.

Great club and one that is still going strong.

Compiled by Keith Law

Our aim is to build a complete list of gigs at the Elbow Room. Here’s a start but we need your help!

There Are Currently 34 Comments for this Post

Went to The Elbow Room on one occasion in 1987. It was a charity night organised by, or attended by some of Brum’s greatest rock stars. We sat on some plush leather chairs drinking and chatting with the likes of Tony Iommi, Bev Bevan, Roy wood, Trevor Burton, Roger Hill etc. The problem was we had had our ‘jabs’ to go to The Gambia that day so by the evening time we were feeling terrible, with paralysed arms to-boot. We didn’t stay very long. Pisser!

I was a regular, twice weekly, ‘performer’ at the Elbow Room in 1967, doing Hytesenemic Light-shows for Judy Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity. Eventually, after the novelty had worn off, the management decided that the space used by ‘LX84 Light-shows’ would be better utilised by paying customers and my services were dispensed with. But it was fun and, at the time, cutting-edge in performance art.

Elbow room was put together by doncarless Malcolm herne fernando assisted by Tony Carr ,Frank Leadon It featured appearances by Mark murphy ,Annie Ross, jimmy Witherspoon fostered many legendary rock musicians who played there in their in early years, Winwood capaldi Luther grasvenor and many of thereat rock bands of the mid60,s brumbeat era, the music decor and atmosphere and American diner type food, unforgettable and carried on so well by Big Al mgr from Sabbath.Star studded memories for all who,ve been therefrom 1965 it

Used to go there with a group of lads from Stratford on Avon, Gary Davis, Tim Harrison, Dave Southam, etc.in 1969-1976. Always a great time with little to no drink driving laws so we would pile out at 3:00am to drive back to Stratford, sometimes stopping for a curry in Sparkbrook(sp) at 3:00am. We knew Nicky Steele quite well as he would also do The Honiley Boot Inn, and Chesford Grange,etc.. He was a DJ on BRMB radio if I remember spinning all those great Motown sounds. Ironically I now live nr Detroit. Ian Sharp

[…] the Who’s Who of early rock and also reminds me of my University days in good old Brum – The Elbow Room in Aston where Traffic got their break was still a big live music venue when I was a student in the […]

What a night!! The testimonial was for one of the sweetest men you could ever hope to meet. Dear Don Carless bless his soul. Yes he was one of the founder owners the Club styled with a Spanish feel as he had connections with Mijas in Southern Spain.Don was badly burnt his hands suffered terribly ,the turn out was fantastic to support this man. The music was fabulous with Steve Windwood ,Jimmy Capaldi & Birminghams favourite daughter Ruby Turner. Happy memories. Dont forget another of Dons & Fernandos earlier ventures, The El Sombrero coffee bar on the Horsefair..I remember an American service man being a regular visitor, up went the boot lid on his car & there for sale cartons of American ciggies rye whiskey etc. The were happy days.

The American s name was Ray Tabberner, from upper Heyford, good 10 pin Bowler and loved coming to B,ham , returned to uk in 1964 for a further time and spent free time in B,ham , last visit1966 to the Castaways , returned to Us and retired from the Airforce , lovely guy xx

I have many happy memories of the Elbow Room from the 60’s. I think Don Carless & Tony Carr managed or owned it. My brother known as “Mickey Twitch” was the DJ and he used to take me there. His good friend was Steve Winwood and I spent times meeting people who are now great names.
The atmosphere was always alive and i was introduced to “clubland” at about 15, courtesy of my brother.
Michael (Mickey Twitch) introduced me to the woman who was to be my sister-in-law, Cindi Peyton, A love affair which ended tragically.
I have loads of memories of different clubs, pubs and bands from Birmingham and fell privileged to have enjoyed, the Elbow Room, Opposite Lock, Whiskey AGOGO, Rum Runner and even those far afield
There were also loads of coffee shops along Snow Hill. Surfside Stop and many with California themes.
Who cannot remember Alex’s pie stand? Originally all the Mod’s and Rocker’s met there for a laugh. God knows what was in the pies but they were wonderful after a night of Barley Wine or whatever we could afford.
There were drugs around but things like purple hearts, cannabis, and nearly everyone enjoyed “a smoke” but few seemed to experiment with hard drugs, although I did see two people overdose at the Whiskey A Go Go Al Nighter – one of those young girls died – she was was one of 5 sisters and aged 17.
There were two girls who came up from (I think) Southampton every weekend, they wore the most wonderful makeup and danced the whole night – everyone loved to watch them.
If anyone remembers my brother or sister in law I would be delighted to hear from you – good or bad, warts and all
Remember loads of names so love to hear from anyonexx
Liz (Used to be Betty Jones)

Hi Betty, We probably bumped into each other there. Ian Sharp – …[email protected]…Now live in the USA in Michigan, but still visit Mom in Startford on Avon….Used to go the Opposite Lock and Rum Runner….Those were great years….

I was just reading this, brought back many memories of people I knew or have heard about, Don Carless was a good friend of mine, in the 70’s and 80’s, I first met him in Goa 1974, with my uncle Alan Ferguson, who I was told was a good friend of Micky twitch,(I lived at Dons house in Harbourne opposite the village green and also his house on Bull street)), 70’s 80’s.

I had heard of what happened to mickey twitch, not only by my uncle Alan ferguson, but also from Cindy Peyton, who was my partner in the late 70’s early 80’s we lived together in Goa also in Birmingham for a little while. Sadly Cindy committed suicide a few years ago April 2010, Alan is also dead now he dead lamma island Hongkong in 2013.

Hey Les, how’s it hangin’ dude? Trust you’re keeping well. Stumbled on this link after trawling back through B’ham Town Hall site and Hippodrome history. Gigs from the 60’s & 70’s and then I got onto the Elbow Room stuff. I saw Chris Farlow there. Leon crashed out in the Gents and was woken in the morning by the old bag cleaning the toilets, and of course, he gave her one in the urinals. Apparently she was really grateful! I don’t know if he ever told Wendy. Anyhoo, great days, great memories. Sorry to hear about Don, we travelled to Morocco in different vans. He had ashitty BMC and I’d just bought Maurice’s six-wheeler Tranny. Smokin! Don was buying stuff for the two shops and he was very pissed off because I’d gone to the souk before him one morning (Tetouan, I think) and cleaned out all the shops. Quite unintentional, swear to God, but I don’t think he ever forgave me. Anyhoo, his shops were in Brum and my little roadside garage (Arabian Daze) was in Devon. Don’t know what he was getting so worked up about. I think that’ll do for now, me old travellin’ pal. Trust you’re keepin well and hope we’ll meet up again sometime, in this life. Bom Shanka, Jon.

Hi Liz
I first went to the Elbow Room before opening night, having fallen under the spell of Don Carless on a night out in town…he took me to the club and explained they were opening a night club – what it would be called and the general aims…I was also at the opening night. I remember Mickey Twitch well, he was a great guy and always played the best tracks. I loved the club and went there on a regular basis, throwing in the Rum Runner, Cedar Club and Opposite Lock occasionally for good measure. I left Birmingham in 1969 and so, apart from the odd rumour (such as hearing Don had been burned, although I never knew how) I didn’t keep up with folks..if you can fill in blanks about what happened to all those lovely people, I’d be really interested to hear. xxx Micki (I changed my name from the much sillier Shandy) xx

Oooh do I remember the elbow room – I’ll say I do. It was the best club in Birmingham. I remember Malcolm Hearn and Don Carlos and Cyndy (and Jenny) and then then was Gary Sermons and Phil who took over who also has Mothers in Erdington (which always had great music. I was friends with Gary and wonder what he is doing now – a really smooth nice guy with a beautiful mellow yellow e-type (the best car ever). When Don had it there was a back bar for wine and I always went there in the the week broke and managed to hassle free wine from the guy who was there (sorry can’t remember his name) then would manage to get out of paying by the weekend because he had forgotten I owed him. I also worked there as a waitress for a time there was a great vibe going on very relaxed and not like most of the clubs like the Cedar, Opposite Lock, Surfside Stop( which was always drug fuelled and had a fur lined lift upstairs etc. (Which I also frequented). John (can’t remember his sir name was the manager at the time and he eventually sacked me and after apologising bought me champagne. I remember Sandra a barmaid I was really good friends with, Steve the gay barman – who I loved, Erskine T, my friends Rae Janet and many, many other people. My best friend who I still am in touch with and her husband met there and I remember a big Jewish community with whom I also was great friends with, Timmy and Mickey Plotnick – Timmy I still love you if you are still out there. I moved to Devon in 1984 but am so glad I had those years of freedom. Gary and Phil also need to have a mention as they bought great music to the club, kept it a really cool club and were great guys. If any of you remember me (and are still alive – we are all getting old) e-mail me. Happy – still; wearing the heels and loving life in Devon – Marie. xxx

Hey Marie
Loved reading you post – all of these names bring back so many great memories…I actually went to school with Erskine T and lost touch during our secondary years, only to meet up again in the Elbow, I remember a lot of the Jewish boys, Phil Jackson Mickey Plotnek (didn’t he get killed in a car accident?) Also remember well Mickey Twitch the DJ and Ralston (aka Roy) the stunning Afro-Caribbean guy who was usually in the small bar just upstairs serving coffee and drinks. Don/Fernando/Malcolm and Tony – not to mention all the great groups/bands – happy days….thanks for providing a now elderly lady with some very happy memories xx

Micky Swann , Ihad the restaurant in the back , from the day we oppened the Elbow , , Mickey P , lived many years , died a year or so ago Phil Jackson , left Bham for the USA 67/68 and died young of a heart attack ,the Jewish lad who worked at the Elbow , Jeff Holtzer, , Tony Carr passed away a year ago , Fernando , alive in Grenoble, I left the Elbow to Join the Hawaiian Group ,resident at the Castaways , and visited Don weekly till he passed on , Stay well, Frank , the yank x

Hi Marie, hope you’re keeping well. We must have crossed paths at some time back in those wonderful, wonderful days. Btw, I’m sure it’e Dearne, not Hearne, but what the hey. Also moved to Devon after roadying for Tea & Symphony. Such great memories. How lucky were we, eh? May the sun always shine for you. Bom Shanka. Rocket Jon. http://www.roadtogoa.com

In 1968 Bachdenkel had a gig in the Elbow Room, after the band had set up and before their first set the club’s manager told them there was a band at the bar who would like to have a jam if they could use Bachdenkel’s gear. They were told in no uncertain terms that they could f*ck off. Turned out the band was about to become The New Yardbirds and the after a name change rather loud and famous.